Say it ain't so: Wet plug on 454

[Alex V.]

Changed the plugs on my '85 454 the other night and they were all nice and consistent save for number 2 (right):


The lower electrode, insulator, and outer case look the same as all the others, but the upper strap had a damp, yellow-green residue on it. The engine has 125K on it with no other feedback to indicate it's burning water - clean oil and coolant, no noticable coolant loss, no steam out the exhaust, etc. Oil comsumption is a quart every 6-800 mi. but a large portion of that is valve seals and various leaks. Haven't done a compression test yet. How likely is it that, considering the position of #2's intake port in relation to the water passage, it's the intake gasket seeping and not a head gasket?

[Dead Parrot]

Lacking any other evidence, wouldn't worry too much. Wait until time to add the next quart of oil and pull the #2 plug and check. Could be that set of valve seals is leaking a bit more then the others. If you know someone with a cylinder inspection tool, take a look after it has sat overnight.

Probably a lot of folks on this forum that wished our plugs looked that nice.

[GASoline71]

Heck that don't look bad at all for an '85! Wait till the oil and crud bridge the gap and the entire plug is black.

Gary

[Alex V.]

Ha - that's the main reason I'm paying it any mind from such a small indicator, I'd like to keep it that way. Near as I recall, before the leaks got worse (valve seals have shown signs since I got it in '07) it would take 1,200-1,500 mi. to use a quart. I'll run the new plugs a little and check it again, then maybe do a compression check just for good measure - never done one.

[TJ's Chevy]

Run Power Punch through that sucker....that stuff will seal anything. haha They call it a Zinc additive....but man...it does more than that. My GMC's engine would burn about 1/2 a quart every 2 weeks(daily driven...only about 5 miles a day so the engine never gets very warm)....with power punch it took over a month.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Run Power Punch through that sucker....that stuff will seal anything. haha They call it a Zinc additive....but man...it does more than that. My GMC's engine would burn about 1/2 a quart every 2 weeks(daily driven...only about 5 miles a day so the engine never gets very warm)....with power punch it took over a month.

Do not see any Zinc additive in that one. Unless I missed something or you have other info???

http://www.powerpunchinc.com/v/vspfi...S/SDS%20PA.pdf

[Alex V.]

To each their own - I've been using Schaeffer's 7000 (15w40>10w30 the last two changes) and I have peace of mind with their formulation of zinc and moly. I also don't think the engine needs any internal cleaning because of the regular diet of Schaeffer's. Trying to band-aid the deterioration of the original 32 year old seals and gaskets with additives isn't my plan for this engine. Not that some of them don't work, but I intend to do whatever I can to see this engine another 125K - I can do any work short of rebuild machining that's necessary so all that's needed for any repairs is time and parts money.

I'm towing a CJ7 to St. Louis (700 mi. round-trip) with the truck next week and just want to minimize any chance of hiccups during the trip.